1. Prague Castle
Prague Castle was once the home of the kings of Bohemia, and today it is the official residence of the President of the Czech Republic and one of the most visited tourist attractions in Prague.
Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world. It covers an area of almost 70,000 m 2, about 570 meters in length and an average of about 130 meters in width. The history of the castle goes back to 870 AD when the construction of the first fortress wall began, as well as the Church of the Virgin Mary.
In the complex of buildings of the Prague Castle, almost all architectural styles of the last millennium are represented. Prague Castle includes: the Romanesque Basilica of St. George, the Gothic Cathedral of St. Vitus , several palaces, a monastery, defensive towers and gardens. Most of the premises of Prague Castle are open to travelers. Currently, the castle houses several museums, including the National Gallery of the Collection of Bohemian Baroque and Mannerism , dedicated to the Czech history of the exhibition, the Art Gallery of Prague Castle, based on the collection of Rudolf II, and the Toy Museum.
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| Prague Castle, Prague Landmarks |
2. Charles Bridge
Another of the sights of Prague is the Charles Bridge. Charles Bridge is one of the most recognizable of the old bridges in Europe, the magnificent Charles Bridge (of Charles Bridge) boasts 32 unique sculptures, most of them made in the Baroque style. Most of the sculptures were installed from 1683 to 1714. At the moment, there are exact copies on the bridge, and the originals of the sculptures are in the National Museum of Prague.
The length of the bridge is 520 meters, the bridge rests on 16 powerful arches. Charles Bridge is protected by three bridge towers , two of them are on the Mala Side (Lesser Towns), and the third is built on the side of the Old Town (Starostranskie) . The Old Town Tower is considered one of the most amazing Gothic buildings in the world. Built in 1357, the bridge has long been the subject of great superstition, including the builders who laid the first stone at the base of the bridge on July 9 at exactly 5:31 am. Each tour of Prague passes through the Charles Bridge.
Official website: www.charlesbridgemuseum.com
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| Charles Bridge Landmark in Prague |
3. The Clementinum and the National Library
Clementinum, one of the largest complexes of historic buildings in Europe, is home to the National Library of the Czech Republic. These beautiful Baroque buildings were originally part of the Jesuit college and later became the Jesuit library. The library eventually became state property when the Jesuits were expelled.
At the moment, the National Library has a collection of six million books. The highlight of Clementinum is the exquisite Baroque Library Hall with its beautiful ceiling, the 68-meter A stronomical tower with its magnificent views of Prague, and the magnificent Mirror Chapel with exquisite decor. At one time, Clementinum was known as the third largest Jesuit college in the world.
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Clementinum and the National Library |
4. The Old Town Square and Prague Astronomical Clock
The historic center of Prague, in the Old Town Square (Stare Mesto), where you will find the magnificent Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí), is the best place to start exploring the city. Here you will find the Tyn Church and the Clementinum, along with numerous other beautiful old churches, as well as magnificent old architecture dating back to the 11th century. The Jewish Quarter is just a short walk north. The highlight of the square is the Old Town Hall ( Staromestska Radnice ), in which the chimes are installed. The clock was first installed in 1410, making it the third oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest to operate.
The other main attractions of the square are the Old Town Hall and the Gothic door leading to beautiful interiors with art exhibitions and displays. The old town hall was built in 1364.
Official website: www.staromestskaradnicepraha.cz
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| Old Town Hall and Prague Astronomical Clock |
5. St. Vitus Cathedral
The Roman Catholic St. Vitus Cathedral is the largest and most important cathedral in the Czech Republic. The House of the Archbishop of Prague is also home to numerous tombs of saints and three Bohemian kings. Founded on the site of a Romanesque rotunda built by Prince Wenceslas in 925 AD, and after 1060 the church was converted into a basilica with three naves and two spiers.
In 1344, Charles IV began building the Gothic cathedral. The first builders, Matthias Arras and later Peter Parler, built an altar with a ring of chapels. The construction took over 525 years. The cathedral was solemnly consecrated only in 1929. The result is a mixture of styles in cathedral architecture, modern neo-gothic and 14th century gothic, as well as baroque and renaissance influences.
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| St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague Landmarks |
6. The Church of Our Lady before Týn
One of the most recognizable buildings in Prague, is the Church of the Virgin Mary, usually abbreviated simply as Tyn Church. Although from the outside, it is an impressive Gothic temple, the interior of the church is immersed in heavy Baroque. Two of the more interesting features are the huge rococo altar on the north wall and the tomb of Tycho Brahe, the Danish astronomer who was one of the most illustrious consultants to Rudolf II. Franz Kafka once lived in a neighboring house at Celetna 3.
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| The Church of Our Lady before Týn |
7. The National Gallery in Prague
One of the many main attractions of Prague and one of the most important architectural monuments of the city, the National Gallery in Prague (Národní Galerie v Praze).
The main part of the collection is housed in the Veletrintsi Palace, a relatively modern building built in 1925, containing works of the 19th - 21st centuries. Although there is a strong emphasis on Czech artists, there are works by Monet and Picasso, as well as other art forms such as photography, fashion, arts and crafts, sculpture, etc.
Other famous works are in the Kinski Palace, which exhibits Asian art, art of the ancient world, as well as the Monastery of St. Agnes , where you will find European art from the Middle Ages. Finally, the magnificent 17th century Sternberg Palace, home to some of the gallery's most famous paintings, European art from the Classical era to the late Baroque period, works by artists such as El Greco, Goya, Rubens, Van Dyck, Rembrandt and Van Goyen.
Official website: www.ngprague.cz/en
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| The National Gallery in Prague |
8. The Municipal House
The Municipal House (Obecní) is considered one of the finest examples of Art Nouveau in the city. Built in 1912, this magnificent civic building is also home to one of the most important (and largest) concert venues in Prague, and boasts many striking features with its splendid painted façade. The interior is equally impressive and includes many beautiful stained glass windows and paintings.
Official website: www.obecnidum.cz/en
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| The Municipal House, Prague Landmarks |
9. Prague Zoo
Opened in 1931, the magnificent Prague Zoo is not only one of the best places to stay in the city, it is also one of the world's top 10 zoological parks (based on customer reviews).
Official website: www.zoopraha.cz/en
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| Prague Zoo, Prague Landmarks |
10. Prague Jewish Quarter
The Prague Jewish Quarter was originally located in the parish castle, but after the 12th century it spread to Josef Square and was considered a slum for centuries. Its transformation into one of the most important and interesting areas of the city took place at the end of the 18th century, when a significant part of the quarter was demolished to make way for residential buildings. Today, Josefov is a pleasant place to walk and includes: the Jewish Museum in Prague (Muzeum v Židovské Prah a), the Spanish synagogue, the Pinkasov synagogue, the Old Jewish cemetery, the Ceremonial Hall, and the Klaus synagogue.
Official website: www.jewishmuseum.cz
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| Prague Jewish Quarter |
11. The Strahov Monastery and Library
The history of the Strahov Monastery dates back to the 12th century. Strahov Monastery is the second oldest monastery in Prague. Its most important buildings are two beautifully decorated baroque libraries. Philosophical Library and Theological Library. The libraries contain a large number of rare old volumes and manuscripts.
Official website: www.strahovskyklaster.cz
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| Strahov Monastery in Prague |